Coronavirus in Argentina | What about subways, trains and buses?

The measures taken by the Government to prevent the spread of the coronavirus do not include the cancellation of public transport services which, for the moment, works normally throughout the country. However, the companies intensified the cleaning tasks and the guided visits that were carried out at the Retiro and Constitución stations were suspended.

Further, The medical area of ​​Trenes Argentinos developed a protocol for the early detection, anticipation of complications, immediate isolation and prevention of infections.

Too They determined that the money from long distance tickets be returned to users who request it and awareness campaigns will be carried out on public roads, platforms and formations.

Sources from the National and City Transportation portfolios explained to TN.com.ar that the decision not to suspend the services has to do with the inexistence of the spread of autochthonous cases of Covid-19 in Argentina. That is, contagions of a community nature, which the health authorities differentiate from those infected with local transmission in close contacts.

In the case of Argentine Trains, made up of three state companies that serve different modalities of the railway service, it is carrying out constant cleaning and disinfection in cars, pinwheels and handrails. The same occurs on Buenos Aires subways and on the Urquiza train line operated by Metrovías.

Meanwhile, the bus lines did not receive indications of the portfolio commanded by Ginés González García and each company can adopt the measures they deem appropriate. Everything works in coordination with the Ministry of Health of the Nation.

Argentine Trains announced that it will return the charge for long distance tickets to users who so wish without any penalty. The state entity has services that connect Buenos Aires with Mar del Plata, Bahía Blanca, Córdoba, Rosario, Tucumán, Bragado and Junín.

If you have any questions or queries, the passenger can enter www.argentina.gob.ar/transporte/trenes-argentinos or contact 0800-222-TREN (8736).

In Buenos Aires city

The City’s Ministry of Transportation and Public Works carries out preventive measures for subway and highway personnel: gel alcohol began to be distributed to personnel in all areas. The distribution was started by the collaborators who have the most contact with the public (ticket offices, toll machines, stations and traffic).

In addition, the supply of hygiene products such as hand soap, disposable towels and gloves, plastic bags for waste, increased for all the driver’s cabins and guards of all the heads of the Subway and Premeter Lines and the Urquiza Railway, as well as in the changing rooms, dining rooms, bathrooms, training rooms, transit areas, offices and public spaces of the company.

In addition, awareness and training talks are given for workers. The members of the Corps of Traffic Agents, Subway and AUSA were and are being informed about the recommendations for the prevention of contagion and personal hygiene and measures to be taken through internal communication channels.

By last, From this Thursday there will be an awareness campaign on the characteristics of the disease, the symptoms, and the ways to prevent contagion. and recommendations for public transport users through posters at strategic points in the City and on highways, on platforms, at windows, in pinwheels, and loudspeaker announcements for subways will be made. Messages will also be broadcast on social networks and notifications will be sent to taxi drivers via BA Taxi.

What about trains

Argentine trains informed this media that iThey intensified the methods and frequency of cleaning the formations and surfaces of the stations of urban, long-distance and regional lines.

Wall and floor washing, cleaning of contact surfaces and car seats are carried out; in addition to the periodic fumigation of the formations and facilities.

Also disinfection of the handrails and seats when the trains arrive at the main stations and in the formations that are enlisted at night with a disinfecting agent approved by the national health authority.

At the same time, the cleaning of pinwheels and other surfaces that passengers use when recharging their SUBE card.

Posters with care measures and the recommendations issued by the Ministry of Health of the Nation were also placed in all common spaces.

By last, Guided visits to the Retiro and Constitución stations were suspended.

The entity also carried out actions in the medical area on trains: they developed an action protocol with the objective of early detection, anticipation of complications, immediate isolation and prevention of infections. It was updated incorporating the actions to be taken by resolution 2020-178 regarding the preventive isolation of people who enter the country from regions affected by the disease.

Each isolated case is monitored preventively by telephone at home every 48/72 hours, controlling the appearance of symptoms.

Urquiza Line

The company executes “an intense systematic disinfection operation of the line formations”: reinforced the daily shifts of the cleaning crew at stations (especially at peak times) and increased the use of disinfectant products; in addition, cleaning and disinfection tasks were intensified on platforms, facilities, ticket offices and cars; and the cleaning and disinfection in public and staff toilets was reinforced.

It also applied preventive measures for staff: they distribute gel alcohol to staff in all areas of the organization, beginning distribution by the ticket office, station and traffic collaborators (driver and guard) who have the most contact with the public.

On the other hand, they increased the supply of hygiene products such as hand soap, disposable towels and gloves, plastic bags for waste, for all the driver’s cabins and guards of all the railway heads, as well as in the changing rooms, dining rooms, restrooms, training rooms, transit areas, offices and public spaces of the company.